The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-23
A Monarch Detnr0ned.

The most remarkable incident in
my buffalo experience was a fight be.
tween two buffalo bulls over on the
Cannonball river in Dakota, and of
which I was the sole and only wit
ness. was riding slowly up a knoll
thinking of anything but buffaloes.
when heard the most wonderful
believing and crashing just ahead as |
If all pandemonium had turned loose |
to scare me out of my five senses. |
My horse ragged and plunged, but
quickly dismounting I lariated my
steed. and between creeping and
crawling managed to secure safe
observatory from which could view
the circus then in progress. Two
powerful buffalo bulls were going it
hammer and tongs in furious efforts
to butt each others brains out. They
had little arena all to themselves.
the rest of the herd forming a circle
around, watching but not interfering,
but waiting to drive the vanquished
from the field in disgrace. Talk about
your bull fights in Spain, your thous-
and-pound bulls battling with little
matadors, no arena of ancient Spain,
or Rome, or modern Mexico ever
had two such fierce combatants face
to face, nor has the tug of war or the
T fight for mastery ever been so deter
mined and fierce as between those
p, two monarchs of the plains on the
t Cannonball river. There had been
3 only one crash before 1 took my re-
l served seat, but the concussiOn and
l crack OF the blow might have been
Q heard mile. The fight had only
$ just begun. After the first whack,
the two champions sort of backed
and eyed each other for second
: crash. Then they lowered their heads,
paved the ground viciously for a
@ few seconds, and came back at each
r other like pair of freight trains
: coming from opposite directions on
8 the same track, When the heads
q came together this time it was with
r dull thump which led me to believe
: one or both craniums had been crack
J. ed on the first round. There they
: stuck-the two heads-and then both
t bulls began 10 push with all their
t might. The logged, stubborn push.
t ing lasted some minutes, until the
Y white froth began to drop in long,
n tenacious strings from their lips, and
= the red eyes to glare through what
i appeared to be clots of blood, Some.
J, body was hurt, for the crimson was
dying the white froth as it fell to the
ground. This dead set Of strength
could not last long. The tendons
were standing out like ropes across
\ the thighs and along the thick necks,
=: and every moment was telling upon
q the short wind and straining of both
r antagonists. Although much of a
% size, could see that one of the bulls
: was an old crusader, while the other
e was a youngster, evidently trying to
}. drive the cid man out of the herd.
Il The old fellows foot slipped, and
d the intelligence of the slight disaster
8 seemed to burst upon his antagonist
d quicker than a flash of lightning. Nc
70 gladiator ever urged his advantage
f more quickly. There was sudden
70 relaxation on the part of the young
d one, then a rush and slipping OF
h horns upon each other, followed by a
is raking upward stroke, and the horn
of the younger bull had torn the
A flank of the old fellow from the leg
IL along the neck to the chin. 1t was
d not fatal stroke, but an exceedingly
|. damaging one. Every time he was
If attacked the patriarch of the herd
10 presented his war and weather-beater
If head, but the youthful bison caught
o. him again and again behind the
A shoulder until the blood was pouring
q in a perfect stream from the wound
n With the agony of defeat in his eye
\. and growing weaker from the loss o
10 blood, still the old fellow refused tt
e. be conquered. AtHlast, with tongue
d hanging out, and painting for breath
Or he stood at bay, defeated and con
!. quered, but still disdaining to re-
r. treat. The young bull pushed ant
1t gored him, but he made no attempt
r. to defend his TANKS. The rest of the
IN herd drew In closer, snorted ant
ia shook their heads, while the cows
10 who had always regarded him as the
a head of the family, spitefully butteC
him in the ribs and walked away
Some of the young bulls gave him {
contemptuous dig, until 1 though
l. the poor old fellow must have re
l. ceiyed thousand wounds.
i. He stood logged and defiant, whip
l. ped. but still obstinate, and gradu'
D. ally the herd wandered further away
It and left him to himself. 1t was 6
o sentence of Punishment, and the sen
10 tence read: ITO 60 and live as Ions